By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Certified Collectibles Group has reached a definitive agreement to acquire leading autograph authentication service James Spence Authentication.
The acquisition will allow CCG to integrate the authentication, grading, and encapsulation of autographed collectibles. Prior to the acquisition, CCG has only offered witnessed authentication of autographs.
Founded in 2005, JSA has built up the world’s largest autograph database of nearly one million images with the signatures of nearly every known person. Using the database, the company’s expertise, and state-of-the-art equipment, JSA has certified millions of autographs.
JSA founder James J. Spence, Jr., and James J. Spence III will continue to run the company after the deal closes, the companies say. JSA co-owner and industry expert Mark Pepitone will remain as a Senior Advisor to the company.
While the companies will continue to operate independently for now, Integrated services from the two companies are expected to launch in April.
The work done by CCG and JSA is not well known outside the collectibles industry, but the two companies are a critical part of that sector.
In fact, the global investment fund Blackstone Tactical Opportunities acquired a majority interest in Certified Collectibles Group, which owns grading and conservation services in the comic (CGC), trading card, sports card (CSG), coin, banknote, magazine, concert poster, stamp, and estate item categories The deal valued the company at over $500 million.
Since it was founded in 1987 to certify coins, the company has certified over 62 million collectibles with a fair market value of nearly $50 billion.
“We have been closely following the rise of the global physical and digital collectibles industry for several years and we were drawn to CCG because of their leadership role in the categories that they serve, and Blackstone’s ability to grow the platform through both organic and inorganic initiatives,” Blackstone Principal C.C. Melvin Ike said of that deal.
The acquisition of JSA is a significant addition to CCG’s portfolio of services, as autographed collectibles continue to grow in value, particularly in the area of Name, Image and Likeness deals.